Shelter has just now entered into a new partnership with HSBC’s First Direct bank to provide what the charity calls its first “renter support initiative ‘Home from Home’.

Home from Home’s aim is to give UK customers who are private tenants free ‘expert’ housing advice.

Over a 12 month period First Direct will offer “free support with issues they’re facing in their tenancy, like unaffordable rent increases and being served with an eviction notice.”

The bank’s statement says: “Private rents are now at record highs, with the latest figures from the ONS showing that as of August 2022 private rents in England have increased by 3.4 per cent in the last year. According to Shelter private renters are also more vulnerable to financial shocks, as almost half have no savings. The charity’s previous research also reveals that every seven minutes, another private tenant in England is handed an eviction notice by their landlord.” 

The bank’s staff or team, as part of this partnership, will undergo training so they can work with the charity in providing advice and support on debt, housing issues and welfare.

First Direct chief executive Chris Pitt says: “No-one should face the prospect of homelessness. Our partnership with Shelter aims to support private renters who find themselves in difficulty. We believe that our customers should feel they can come to us for help when they need it. 

“Our dedicated team and the experts from Shelter will be taking a hands-on approach to tackling the difficulties many private renters are facing as landlords pass on the costs of rising bills and mortgage payments. This is just part of the support we’re offering customers during this difficult time.”

Shelter chief executive Polly Neate adds: “Rising rents and spiralling living costs are pushing more struggling renters to the brink of homelessness. Every day we help people to find or keep hold of a safe home, and our work is as critical as ever. 

“Our partnership with First Direct will help their customers access vital housing advice and support at a time when they need it most. It will also help our frontline services continue providing free and expert support to thousands of other people facing homelessness, as well as helping us campaign for lasting change.”

Richard Merrick of PIMS,said:” Once again Shelter’s created ‘truth’ that every seven minutes a tenant is being handed an eviction notice and is now adopted by First Direct. Does this mean that between 10pm and 9am every day over 70 eviction notices are posted out and do the ‘posties’ (sorry we have to be careful here) get time and a half?

“We fully support the bank’s scheme to help tenants with the cost of living crisis along with advice on successfully budgeting their monthly income.

“However in some eviction cases this is solely down to renters who ‘happily’ rack up thousands in rental arrears, hopefully its advice to these type of tenants will not be the same as the many council’s telling them to stay put for as long as possible. For the feckless few will the bank offer them free overdrafts or money to the tune of thousands of pounds to pay for their rental arrears?: